1 Kings 7:38

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

Contextual Overview

¹³Now King Solomon sent to bring Huram from Tyre. ¹⁴He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a craftsman in bronze. Huram had great skill, understanding, and knowledge for every kind of bronze work. So he came to King Solomon and carried out all his work. ¹⁵He cast two pillars of bronze, each eighteen cubits high and twelve cubits in circumference. ¹⁶He also made two capitals of cast bronze to set on top of the pillars, each capital five cubits high. ¹⁷For the capitals on top of the pillars he made a network of lattice, with wreaths of chainwork, seven for each capital. ¹⁸Likewise, he made the pillars with two rows of pomegranates around each grating to cover each capital atop the pillars. ¹⁹And the capitals atop the pillars in the portico were shaped like lilies, four cubits high. ²⁰On the capitals of both pillars, just above the rounded projection next to the network, were the two hundred pomegranates in rows encircling each capital. ²¹Thus he set up the pillars at the portico of the temple. The pillar to the south he named Jachin, and the pillar to the north he named Boaz. ²²And the tops of the pillars were shaped like lilies. So the work of the pillars was completed.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

ten lavers: Exodus 30:17-21, Exodus 30:28, Exodus 38:8, Exodus 40:11, Exodus 40:12, 2 Chronicles 4:6-22, Zechariah 13:1, Hebrews 9:10, Hebrews 10:22, 1 John 1:7, Revelation 7:14

Reciprocal: Exodus 30:18 - a laver 1 Kings 7:26 - two thousand 2 Chronicles 2:10 - baths of wine

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then made he ten lavers of brass,.... There was but one in the tabernacle of Moses, and what became of that is not known: some Jewish writers c say it was placed in Solomon's temple, and these lavers, five on the right and five on the left of it; however, here were enough provided for the purpose for the priests to wash their burnt offerings in, 2 Chronicles 4:6 and were typical of the large provision made in the blood of Christ for the cleansing of his people; whose works, services, and sacrifices, as well as persons and garments, need continual washing in that blood; see Romans 12:1,

one laver contained forty baths; and a bath, according to Bishop Cumberland d held seven wine gallons, and two quarts and half a pint:

and every laver was four cubits: that is, square; this was the diameter of it:

and upon every of the ten bases one laver; for which they were made, even to set the lavers on, and were exactly of the same measure.

c Targum, Jarchi, and Kimchi, in 2 Chron. iv. 6. d Scripture Weights and Measures, c. 3. p. 70, 71.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Every laver was four cubits - Assuming height to be intended, and taking the cubit at 20 inches, the entire height of the lavers as they stood upon their wheeled stands would seem to have been 13 ft. 9 in. It is evident, therefore, that the water must have been drawn from them, as from the “molten sea,” through cocks or taps.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Kings 7:38. Then made he ten lavers — These were set on the ten bases or pedestals, and were to hold water for the use of the priests in their sacred office, particularly to wash the victims that were to be offered as a burnt-offering, as we learn from 2 Chronicles 4:6; but the brazen sea was for the priests to wash in. The whole was a building of vast art, labour, and expense.